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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:

  • That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
  • We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
  • On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.

By learning about Jimtown (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.

As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Jimtown. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.

Neighboring Counties ...

When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.

For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.

So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived:  their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the east contained birth and death records; the county to the north contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

Jimtown is located in Champaign County.

To see how the shape of Illinois' counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Champaign County: Douglas, Edgar, Ford, McLean, Piatt & Vermilion.

Below are the counties that are near Jimtown. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Jimtown:

  • Champaign County     (The home county of Jimtown)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jimtown, with the one closest to Jimtown listed first.
    • Pesotum
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Sadorus
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Ivesdale
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Tolono
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Tolono is located in Champaign County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolono
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,349 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tolono <1>
    • Philo
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Philo is located in Champaign County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philo
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,378 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Philo <1>
    • Savoy
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Savoy is located in Champaign County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savoy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,364 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Savoy <1>
    • Bondville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Seymour
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Staley
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Staley is located in Champaign County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Staley
    • Longview
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Champaign
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Mira
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Mira is located in Champaign County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mira
  • Coles County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jimtown, with the one closest to Jimtown listed first.
    • Humboldt
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Cooks Mills
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Cooks Mills is located in Coles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooks Mills
    • Dorans
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Dorans is located in Coles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorans
    • Bushton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Bushton is located in Coles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bushton
    • Oakland
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Rardin
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Rardin is located in Coles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rardin
    • Mattoon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Saint Omer ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Saint Omer is located in Coles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Omer
    • Charleston
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • De Witt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jimtown, with the one closest to Jimtown listed first.
    • Weldon
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Farmer City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • De Witt
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • De Witt is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Witt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 175 people
    • Fullerton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Fullerton is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fullerton
    • Parnell
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Parnell is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnell
    • Lane
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Douglas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jimtown, with the one closest to Jimtown listed first.
    • Chicken Bristle
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Chicken Bristle is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chicken Bristle
    • Hayes
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Hayes is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayes
    • Ficklin
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Ficklin is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ficklin
    • Garrett
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Garrett is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrett
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 160 people
    • Tuscola
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Villa Grove
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Villa Grove is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villa Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,414 people
    • Patterson Springs
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Patterson Springs is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson Springs
    • Camargo
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Fairland
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Fairland is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairland
    • Chesterville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Chesterville is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterville
    • Arthur
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Arcola
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
  • Edgar County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jimtown, with the one closest to Jimtown listed first.
    • Palermo
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Palermo is located in Edgar County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palermo
    • Brocton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Hume
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Borton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Borton is located in Edgar County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borton
    • Metcalf
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Macon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jimtown, with the one closest to Jimtown listed first.
    • Casner
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Casner is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casner
    • Argenta
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Long Creek
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Long Creek is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Creek
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,262 people
    • Oreana
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Sangamon
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Sangamon is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sangamon
    • Hervey City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Hervey City is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hervey City
    • Mount Zion
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Decatur
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
    • Turpin
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Turpin is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turpin
  • McLean County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jimtown, with the one closest to Jimtown listed first.
    • Kumler
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Kumler is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kumler
    • Laurette
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Laurette is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurette
  • Moultrie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jimtown, with the one closest to Jimtown listed first.
    • Cadwell
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Cadwell is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadwell
    • Lovington
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Cushman
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Cushman is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cushman
    • Lake City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Lake City is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
    • Sullivan
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Allenville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Allenville is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allenville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 141 people
    • Dunn
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Dunn is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn
    • Coles
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Coles is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coles
    • Bethany
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Dalton City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Piatt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jimtown, with the one closest to Jimtown listed first.
    • Atwood
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Bement
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Voorhies
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Voorhies is located in Piatt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
    • Monticello
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • White Heath
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Hammond
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Burrowsville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Burrowsville is located in Piatt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrowsville
    • Milmine
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Lintner
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Lintner is located in Piatt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lintner
    • Cerro Gordo
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Cisco
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • La Place
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
  • Vermilion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jimtown, with the one closest to Jimtown listed first.
    • Allerton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Archie
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Archie is located in Vermilion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Archie
    • Sidell
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Fairmount
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Fithian
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Jimtown, see our County-by-County Page for Jimtown.

Cemeteries Near Jimtown ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Jimtown.

This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.

Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for Jimtown - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Jimtown covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Jimtown, with the one closest to Jimtown listed first.

  • Rock Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Cemetery
    • The Rock Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Andy Rock Cemetery
  • Rice Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rice Cemetery
    • The Rice Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Hixon Cemetery
  • O'Bryan Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Lewis Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Nelson Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Sadorus Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Mt. Zion Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Davis Memorial Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis Memorial Cemetery
    • The Davis Memorial Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Pesotum Cemetery
  • St. Joseph Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • St. Joseph Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Joseph Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Joseph Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 2 miles [3.2 km]<3> to the northeast of Ivesdale.
    • The St. Joseph Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Iverdale Cemetery
    • Ivesdale Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1972624 <2>
  • Craw Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Lake Fork Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (242 more) ...
    • Upper Lester Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Antioch Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • St. Marys Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)

Nearby Communities in 1895 ...

We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<4>

While we didn't find Jimtown in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Jimtown.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Jimtown, with the one closest to Jimtown listed first.

  • Pesotum
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Sadorus
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Hayes
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Hayes is located in Douglas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayes
  • Ivesdale
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Garrett
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Garrett is located in Douglas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrett
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 160 people
  • Ficklin
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Ficklin is located in Douglas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ficklin
  • Tolono
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Tolono is located in Champaign County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolono
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,349 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tolono <1>
  • Atwood
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Tuscola
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • West Ridge
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • West Ridge is located in Douglas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Ridge
  • Bourbon
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Bourbon is located in Douglas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bourbon
  • Voorhies
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Voorhies is located in Piatt County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Galton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Galton is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galton
    • Villa Grove
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Villa Grove is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villa Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,414 people
    • Bement
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Jimtown. See our List of 1890's Communities around Jimtown.

Newspapers Published in Jimtown ...

An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).

To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.

Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 178 newspapers that have been published in the area around Jimtown.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Jimtown, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Jimtown.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.

To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Jimtown:

Footnotes ...

<1>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<2>The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Jimtown) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<4>We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Jimtown, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.